Lysacek was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot more than a year before the Olympics. I don't believe that's quite as serious a setback as what some of the others were dealing with. Joubert and Chan missed competitions during the Olympic season because of their health issues, while Lambiel and Takahashi had to sit out the entire previous season (Lambiel actually retired because it appeared his injury would not be manageable).

Lysacek's injury was not more than one year before the Olympics. Evan was diagnosed with the stress fracture prior to the World Championships in March 2009. (The diagnosis was shortly after he competed at 4CC, where he landed his last 4T in competition) Part of the treatment required Lysacek to be off the ice for one month in the summer of 2009.

Lysacek's injury was not more than one year before the Olympics. Evan was diagnosed with the stress fracture prior to the World Championships in March 2009. (The diagnosis was shortly after he competed at 4CC, where he landed his last 4T in competition) Part of the treatment required Lysacek to be off the ice for one month in the summer of 2009.

I stand corrected, it was one year before and not more than a year before. The point I made, and I think it's valid, is that Patrick Chan was one of several top skaters whose 2010 Olympic season was greatly affected by injuries and health issues (of the sort that could not wait for a summer rehab program).

While kozuka is very light on his feet and the way his blade touches the ice is an art form he doesn't have Patrick's very deep edges or his wonderful upper body movements.

Ironically my fear is that judges will be swayed by armchair judges many who post on these sites. I have spoken to three coaches - two who do not like Chan's style and they said his pcs overall skating skills, trnasitions and choreo should be MUCH HIGHER compared to even good pcs like Dai and Kozuka etc. Chan may have nothing to cope with if those judges listen to these fan oops skating sites.

I stand corrected, it was one year before and not more than a year before. The point I made, and I think it's valid, is that Patrick Chan was one of several top skaters whose 2010 Olympic season was greatly affected by injuries and health issues (of the sort that could not wait for a summer rehab program).

Point well taken and really a year over a year the point is a lot of time before the olympics!

"I was nervous, honestly," Chan said. "I started having the (negative) feelings I had last season. . . It was really challenging even before I got on the ice to stay positive, and remember the things that I wanted to repeat that I had in the short program — looking forward to going out there, to look forward to doing the quad, but not looking too far ahead, doing one quad at a time and then moving on."

As the world's most dominant skater for three seasons, he's easily the man to beat in Sochi. He boasts the physical tools to take him to the top of the podium, but says this season is all about the mental game.

"It's not about physically being prepared but mostly being mentally prepared, because I think that's the only thing that held me back (last season)," Chan said. "When I think of being aggressive and being really focused, I get too serious and I start to stress too much, and think of the little things."

Chan’s mom Karen was travelling in Europe when he won his fourth Skate Canada International title Saturday. The trip was her way of “coping with the separation” the skater said, after he moved to Detroit without her — a split that wasn’t a mutual decision.

the absence of his mom was remarkable considering she’d basically been the boss of Team Chan for his entire career, acting as everything from his manager to his chauffeur and his cook.

He’s diligent during the week, maintaining a strict training schedule and diet, but he “lets loose” on the weekends. He eats what he wants, and makes a point of enjoying his time off the ice. He golfs or works on his car. It helps him cope, he said, with the grind of training.

He didn’t allow himself that luxury before the Vancouver Games, where he finished a disappointing fifth after having his sights set on a medal.

“I was narrowly minded: ‘It has to be this way or I’m going to lose the medal.’ It had to be this perfection in life and perfection in skating,” he said. “This Olympics I’m approaching differently, I’m teaching my body to adapt in different situations, so that when I get to Sochi I’m not so focused on, ‘Oh my god, because I ate pasta that’s not gluten-free, I’m going to lose this competition.’”